Emergency Septic Backup Service in Florence, SC

A septic backup is one of the worst problems a homeowner can face: wastewater coming up into a tub, shower or floor drain, toilets that will not flush, or sewage surfacing in the yard. Call (843) 960-3805 and we will try to connect you with an independent septic provider serving Florence and the Pee Dee who handles urgent calls. Availability depends on the provider and the time of day. Florence SC Septic Pros is a referral service operated by Recover Profits Now. We do not pump tanks, inspect systems or dig drain fields; the independent provider you are connected with quotes and does the work.

What to do right now

1. Stop using water. No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Every gallon you send down has to go somewhere.
2. Keep people and pets away from any sewage, inside or outdoors. Sewage carries bacteria and viruses.
3. Check the pump alarm. If your system has a pump and the alarm is sounding, check whether the breaker for the pump has tripped. Do not open the pump tank or reach into it.
4. Do not use chemicals or drain cleaners to clear a septic backup. They will not fix it and can harm the system.
5. Call for help and tell the provider what you see: where the water is coming up, whether there is an alarm, and when the tank was last pumped.

Common causes of a backup

• A full tank. The most common cause. When the tank has not been pumped in years, solids block the outlet.
• A clog in the line between the house and the tank, often from wipes, grease or roots.
• A failed pump or stuck float in systems that pump to the field.
• A saturated drain field after days of heavy rain or a tropical storm, when the ground cannot take any more water.
• A failed drain field that has clogged over time.
• A broken baffle that let solids plug the outlet.

How an emergency visit usually goes

1. Triage on the phone. The provider asks questions to judge whether it is a line clog, a full tank or a pump problem.
2. Find and open the tank. The liquid level tells a lot. If the tank is low, the clog is likely in the house line; if it is high, the problem is the tank outlet, pump or field.
3. Pump or clear. Pumping the tank often gives immediate relief. A line clog may be cleared with a sewer machine or jetter.
4. Find the cause. A good provider checks baffles, the pump and the field so the backup does not return next week.
5. Plan the fix. If a part or the drain field needs repair, you get a written quote.

Typical emergency costs

These are typical national-guide ranges from published cost guides, not quotes. Emergency and after-hours service usually costs more than a scheduled visit.

What moves the price

Time of day is the biggest factor; nights, weekends and holidays usually cost more. Buried lids, tanks that are hard to reach, and problems that turn out to be in the drain field also add cost. Ask for the trip fee and the hourly or flat rate before the crew starts.

When the rivers come up: backups after Pee Dee floods

Florence County has seen three major floods in four years. In October 2015, rain fell for four straight days, October 2 to 5. In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew brought floodwaters that killed two people in the county. In September 2018, Hurricane Florence pushed the Pee Dee River at Pee Dee to 31.83 feet, about a foot and a half below its 1945 record. Florence County set up evacuation zones along the river between the US 301, US 52, US 378 and SC 41/51 bridges, and opened shelters in Johnsonville, Coward, Florence and Lake City. After Matthew, the National Weather Service noted that the Lynches River at 15 feet floods roads near Effingham and New Hope. It also noted that Black Creek near Quinby reaches yards on Creekside Drive, Crooked Creek Drive and East Black Creek Road at 13 feet.

When the drain field is under water, even a recently pumped system backs up because the effluent has nowhere to go. The EPA and Clemson Extension give the same basic advice for after a flood:

• Do not have the tank pumped while the field is flooded or saturated. It is only a temporary fix, and an empty tank in waterlogged soil can float or shift.
• Cut water use to a minimum until the ground drains.
• Check electrical connections to any septic pump before restoring power.
• If you are on a well, do not drink the water until it has been tested.
• Once the water is down, have a professional check the tank, lids and field for damage, settling and silt.

Our permits, soils and flooding page goes into more detail.

Cleanup and safety

Sewage inside a home is a health hazard. Keep children and pets out of the area, wear gloves and boots, and throw out porous items that were soaked. For large indoor spills, a water damage restoration company may be needed in addition to the septic provider. Check with your homeowner's insurance about coverage.

What to ask when you call

• Can you come today, and what is the trip or after-hours fee?
• Is your company licensed by SCDES for septic pumping?
• If the problem is the pump or field, can you diagnose it on this visit?
• Will I get a written record of what you found?

South Carolina permits and licenses

In South Carolina, septic systems (the state calls them onsite wastewater systems) are regulated by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, or SCDES. SCDES took over the septic program when the old Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) was split into two agencies on July 1, 2024, so older paperwork and websites may still say DHEC. SCDES issues the permits for new systems and licenses the people who do the work: septic system installers, under a tiered license, and septic pumper/haulers who clean tanks and haul the waste. Ask any provider for their SCDES license before work starts, and ask whether your job needs an SCDES permit and who will apply for it.

Backing up now? Call (843) 960-3805.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we serve

We connect callers across Florence, Darlington, Hartsville, Lake City and the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, including:

• Florence
• Darlington
• Hartsville
• Lake City
• Timmonsville
• Quinby
• Effingham
• Pamplico
• Mars Bluff
• Johnsonville
• Olanta
• Coward
• Scranton
• Society Hill
• Florence County
• Darlington County

Local pages: Darlington, Hartsville, Lake City.

Related services

• Septic Tank Pumping
• Septic Inspections
• Septic & Drain Field Repair
• New Septic Installation
• Grease Trap Pumping